John McCain

[Noah]

How do you Americans feel about John McCain? There's limited stuff that reaches the Norwegian press, and it's usually biased to anti-bush. We get a picture that he's pretty warmongering, and a righteous defender of your gun laws. I've also found out that this guy is popular in US and this kinda scares me, how many of your politicians are so bloodthirsty?

[ConcreteSchlyrd]

You know, for as much shit as Americans get for having biased and reactionary news, you'd figure that other countries' media was working, well... better. Guess not.

I'd hardly describe McCain as "bloodthirsty" or "warmongering." I'm not a huge fan of the guy, since he tends to be a little more conservative than my liking, but I also respect the work he's done and even some of the things he stands for (he was one of the few republicans to stand up to the Bush administration's stance on torture).

[Noah]

Like I said conc, most of the news that comes here about America is biased to shit. That's why I'm asking here.

[Squeezer]

He's an okay guy I guess.

I'd much rather vote Edwards/Obama in '08 though.

[404 Not Found]

McCain is an idiot. I think his skin cancer has reached his brain.

He only is in single digits upon polls taken for the GOP Presidential nominee.

But if you want some background on McCain here's an exerpt from a political blog I write on that cover good ol John.

Last year, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), perhaps best known for the campaign finance reform measure that bears his name, sponsored another reform measure that would require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. For McCain, at the time, it was all about his signature domestic policy concern: transparency and accountability in the political process.

This year, McCain opposes the very measure he used to champion.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has told conservative activists that he will vote to strip a key provision on grassroots lobbying from the reform package he previously supported.

The provision would require grassroots organizations to report on their fundraising activities and is strongly opposed by groups such as the National Right to Life Committee, Gun Owners of America, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

While grassroots groups on both sides of the political spectrum oppose the proposal, social conservative leaders such as Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, who broadcasts a radio program to hundreds of thousands of evangelical Christians, have been its most vehement critics.

Asked to explain the complete reversal, McCain’s spokesperson said the senator changed his mind after receiving “feedback” from conservative groups, which, coincidentally, just happen to be some of the same far-right activist organizations McCain hopes to impress for his presidential campaign.

Of course, you know what this means — it’s time to update the list of McCain’s biggest flip-flops as he transforms himself from maverick hero to right-wing hack. We’re up to 15 now.

* McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”

* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.

* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but has since decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. (Indeed, McCain has now hired Falwell’s debate coach.)

* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.

* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.

* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.

* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.

* McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it. [corrected]

* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.

* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* McCain decided in 2000 that he didn’t want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.’” Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.

Remember, McCain still believes his strength as a candidate is his credibility and consistency.

It’s also worth noting that McCain’s desperate attempts to reinvent himself may be backfiring. American Research Group, a New Hampshire-based polling firm, recently found that McCain’s popularity among independents in the Granite State has “collapsed.” (thanks to T.B. for the tip)

“John McCain is tanking,” says ARG president Dick Bennett. “That’s the big thing [we’re finding]. In New Hampshire a year ago he got 49 percent among independent voters. That number’s way down, to 29 percent now.”

McCain is struggling with Republicans who don’t trust him, independents who are disappointed in him, and Democrats who’ve grown disgusted with him. Other than these voters, however, McCain’s in great shape.

This should give you a good perspective to the McCain running for President in `08. He is not that popular...trust me.

[Aquatiq]

Last I heard he was a friend of Comedy Central, that's good enough for a lot of people.

[Kolar]

I think he initially put himself out there as a moderate, trying to pick up independent-moderate/libertarian voters (Giuliani is more likely to grab those voters now). More recently on Iraq he's completely ignoring the reality of the war and he's pandering to the fringe conservative groups on everything. If anyone believes they can only win an election by doing this they don't deserve the office.

[Jerome Scuggs]

Last I heard he was a friend of Comedy Central, that's good enough for a lot of people.

haha, I'm really high and for the past week i've only seen daily show/colbert while high so this is like triple hilarious

[Squeezer]

Last I heard he was a friend of Comedy Central, that's good enough for a lot of people.

Quoted for Truthiness.

[404 Not Found]

Anyone who would vote for McCain based upon he is a friend of Comedy Central should be shot!

The problem with most of the U.S. is that they will base their votes upon a candidate, not for how they vote on issues and what they plan or have failed in doing, but people vote for them if they have nice teeth and a smile, good hair, a nice voice or they are just good friendly followers of God and will do whatever the church calls for them to do. Many other reasons too...but I think most will get what I am saying.

God forbid anyone looks at the issues at hand...nope...well some do, but a majority of this nation votes on shallow reasons as to why someone is good and someone is not, never on issues or voting records. That's why we have Bush the Idiot as president.

[Jerome Scuggs]

Anyone who would vote for McCain based upon he is a friend of Comedy Central should be shot!

The problem with most of the U.S. is that they will base their votes upon a candidate, not for how they vote on issues and what they plan or have failed in doing, but people vote for them if they have nice teeth and a smile, good hair, a nice voice or they are just good friendly followers of God and will do whatever the church calls for them to do. Many other reasons too...but I think most will get what I am saying.

God forbid anyone looks at the issues at hand...nope...well some do, but a majority of this nation votes on shallow reasons as to why someone is good and someone is not, never on issues or voting records. That's why we have Bush the Idiot as president.

We so think alike.

[Dameon Angell]

I'm a firm believer of we need someone to be president who isn't a Republican or a Democrat. Someone like ... right in the middle. If you pick one too far to the left or right you'll get someone fucking up on national defense or domestic policy. The two party system is a load of shit these days. Pretty much it's two groups of friends take their best friend and say "My best friend is better than your best friend, and we'll let the plebeians decide on it".

Too many people vote based on the party and not the facts.

Person 1> Oooh, I'm a republican, I'll vote Bush.
Person 2> Oooh, I'm a democrat, I'll vote Kerry.

Do they know what they stand for? Not really. They have a basic ballpark understanding of their ideals based on the party for which they are under. But do they know specifics? More times than not, no.

The party system should be abolished and we should vote for people, not gangs. Should be Bush vs Kerry, Obama vs McCain, so on and so forth.

And furthermore, while I'm still ranting, all voters should be required to take a test before they should vote. I know most of the current voters have no clue who the fuck these guys are before they fill in the dot next to their name.

-------

Anyways, back on topic. John McCain is a veteran of the Vietnam war. I suppose that's why your country marks him as "war monger" and "blood thirsty". Truth be told, the guy was in a Vietnamese POW camp for several years, so I know that gives him a much different perspective on war than most people have today. Would he be the best for the job? That's for you to decide, but he's definitely not this right wing nut job who talks with a southern accent and carries a shottie.

[Kolar]

Anyways, back on topic. John McCain is a veteran of the Vietnam war. I suppose that's why your country marks him as "war monger" and "blood thirsty". Truth be told, the guy was in a Vietnamese POW camp for several years, so I know that gives him a much different perspective on war than most people have today. Would he be the best for the job? That's for you to decide, but he's definitely not this right wing nut job who talks with a southern accent and carries a shottie.

Definitely not but he's willing to sell out to those types. I think you guys do need a guy in the middle even if he/she works within the two party system.

[genocidal]

Two-party system is the best. But that's another debate for another day.

[eehh]

Two-party system is the best.

so when both candidates are idiots, you're fucked?